Abstract

Cerebral vasospasm is a serious complication following aneurysmal subarachnoidhemorrhage (SAH); it causes delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) or infarction. Arterial vasospasmis considered the most common cause of disability and mortality among survivors of aneurysmalSAH. Monitoring for vasospasm is extremely important starting from the first day following ahemorrhage. The mechanism of vasospasm is not completely understood, but most data andstudies link the incidence of vasospasm to inflammatory responses secondary to extravasationof blood into the subarachnoid space. It is essential for critical care teams and health careproviders caring for patients with aneurysmal SAH to understand the clinical presentation andmanagement of cerebral vasospasm. In our review, we focus on the guidelines for monitoringand basic management of vasospasm and DCI which include monitoring options, hemodynamicand endovascular therapy, triggers for intervention, and triggers for treatment de-escalation.